Job title: Independent Coordinator – Family, Community and Connections Team (Citywide)

Salary: Grade PO2 (£39,862 – £42,839)

Hours: 37 per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Leeds (citywide, with flexible and hybrid working)

Introduction

As an Independent Coordinator, you'll work alongside families, children and communities to strengthen relationships, work through difficulties and support people to make their own decisions about what matters to them. This is not a traditional Family Group Conference role. It's a varied and flexible position where you'll use a range of restorative approaches to support family and community-led solutions.

About You

A strong commitment to working alongside children, young people and families in a relational, strengths-based way.
Experience of engaging families and building trust.
Strong communication and organisational skills.
The ability to work independently as part of a small, supportive team.
An NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant field such as social care, youth work, education, mediation or a related area, together with at least three years' experience of working with children, young people and families.

About the Role

You'll be part of a small, supportive team delivering a growing citywide service within Early Help.

In this role, you will facilitate a range of restorative processes, including Family Group Conferences, mediation, conflict resolution and community conferencing. You'll work directly with families and their wider networks to support them to lead decision-making, strengthen relationships and make their own plans about what happens next.

This is an opportunity to be part of a developing service, helping to shape and grow practice while contributing to a relational, community-led approach across Leeds.

We believe that diverse experiences, perspectives and communities make our service stronger. We particularly welcome applications from people who are care experienced, people from ethnically diverse communities, disabled people and others whose voices and experiences may be underrepresented within our workforce. Lived experience is valued alongside professional experience, and we encourage anyone who shares our commitment to relational and restorative practice to apply.

What We Offer You

A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
Ongoing professional development opportunities.
A range of staff benefits to support your wellbeing.

How to Apply

Please complete the online application form.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact:

Tim Shelton, Team Manager – 0113 535 0789

Gail Whiting, Service Delivery Manager – 0113 378 5379

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To provide high-quality coordination and facilitation within the Family, Community and Connections Team
Support children, young people and families to strengthen relationships and make safe, sustainable plans
Facilitate Family Group Conferences and wider restorative processes

Responsibilities

Plan, organise and facilitate Family Group Conferences and review meetings
Work independently and manage coordination of meetings bringing together families and professionals
Ensure full participation of children, young people and families using varied communication methods
Support vulnerable adults through the process
Follow safeguarding procedures and act on risks
Support families to develop safe care plans
Provide advice and consultation to professionals
Deliver training to professionals and community groups
Collect evaluation data and feedback
Complete administrative tasks related to coordination
Contribute to service development and promotion
Participate in supervision and training
Comply with all council policies
Promote equality and anti-discriminatory practice

Qualifications

CQSW, DipSW, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
Minimum 3 years experience working with children and families

Essential requirements - Skills

Work independently and manage workload
Chair and facilitate meetings
Work to timescales
Build relationships with families and professionals
Manage conflict and support plans
Negotiate and mediate
Identify and communicate risks
Communicate effectively written and verbal
Work flexibly and creatively
Maintain neutrality
Work with multi-agency partners
IT skills
Flexible working including evenings/weekends

Knowledge

Family Group Conferencing principles
Safeguarding and child protection
Multi-agency working
Impact of poverty and discrimination

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.